The junior big man is a top recruiting priority for Pitino and the Gophers.
Alex Illikainen, a 6-foot-9 2015 star junior from Grand Rapids, is considered the top player in the state in the Class of 2015. Illikainen helped lead Grand Rapids to the Class AAA state boy’s basketball tournament for the third straight year.
Illikainen earlier became the first sophomore in Grand Rapids boys basketball history to go over 1,000 career points and has over 1,000 rebounds. He has a chance to become the state’s all-time leading rebounder.
Illikainen talked to GopherHole.com after playing at St. Benedict’s with his Thunderhawks’ teammates at the Pacesetter Sweet 16.
Gopher Hole: You picked up a few new offers since July. Who have you gotten offers from recently?
Alex Illikainen: I got California, Texas Tech, Wisconsin Green Bay and Indiana.
Gopher Hole: That has to make you feel pretty proud that all your hard work has paid off?
Alex Illikainen: Yes. It is awesome. Successful summer. Team played pretty good and it was a lot of fun, too.
Gopher Hole: How many offers are you up to now?
Alex Illikainen: I think that is eleven. Ten or eleven. (His previous offers were Minnesota, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Creighton, NDSU, Oregon and Nebraska)
Illikainen earlier became the first sophomore in Grand Rapids boys basketball history to go over 1,000 career points and has over 1,000 rebounds. He has a chance to become the state’s all-time leading rebounder.
Illikainen talked to GopherHole.com after playing at St. Benedict’s with his Thunderhawks’ teammates at the Pacesetter Sweet 16.
Gopher Hole: You picked up a few new offers since July. Who have you gotten offers from recently?
Alex Illikainen: I got California, Texas Tech, Wisconsin Green Bay and Indiana.
Gopher Hole: That has to make you feel pretty proud that all your hard work has paid off?
Alex Illikainen: Yes. It is awesome. Successful summer. Team played pretty good and it was a lot of fun, too.
Gopher Hole: How many offers are you up to now?
Alex Illikainen: I think that is eleven. Ten or eleven. (His previous offers were Minnesota, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Creighton, NDSU, Oregon and Nebraska)
Gopher Hole: Have you thought about trying to visit some schools before you high school year starts?
Alex Illikainen: I am going to try to definitely get out to Cal, the new one. I am going to try to go to Indiana, too. During the season, I want to a Creighton game and that kind of stuff.
Alex Illikainen: I am going to try to definitely get out to Cal, the new one. I am going to try to go to Indiana, too. During the season, I want to a Creighton game and that kind of stuff.
Gopher Hole: Are you going to try to get to some college football games like you have in the past such as at Minnesota?
Alex Illikainen: I am just going to go home and see what weekends look like and try to get out there.
Alex Illikainen: I am just going to go home and see what weekends look like and try to get out there.
Gopher Hole: What things have you been really working on to continue to improve yourself as a player?
Alex Illikainen: Working on a lot of perimeter play, dribbling, ballhandling and all that kind of stuff. Post up and just shooting free throws, too.
Gopher Hole: Have you had a chance to do much with your high school team besides playing in the Pacesetter?
Alex Illikainen: Earlier in June, we had a training thing every morning. We went in and did some shooting circuits. We had a couple of practices after that
Gopher Hole: Minnesota has a new coaching staff. What are you hearing from the Gophers right now?
Alex Illikainen: I am hearing a lot from both Coach Pitino and Ben Johnson. I knew him from his previous job at Nebraska. I want to get down there a couple of times since it is so close and watch a couple of games and just visit with them. I am hearing a lot from them.
Gopher Hole: Ben Johnson had recruited you before at Nebraska. Does that helped that relationship because you knew him from before and didn’t know Coach Pitino since he was down in Florida?
Alex Illikainen: Yes. I had been down to Minnesota a lot when Tubby and them were there plus I know Ben. It is a new start, but I have some roots there.
Gopher Hole: Have you had a chance to do much with your high school team besides playing in the Pacesetter?
Alex Illikainen: Earlier in June, we had a training thing every morning. We went in and did some shooting circuits. We had a couple of practices after that
Gopher Hole: Minnesota has a new coaching staff. What are you hearing from the Gophers right now?
Alex Illikainen: I am hearing a lot from both Coach Pitino and Ben Johnson. I knew him from his previous job at Nebraska. I want to get down there a couple of times since it is so close and watch a couple of games and just visit with them. I am hearing a lot from them.
Gopher Hole: Ben Johnson had recruited you before at Nebraska. Does that helped that relationship because you knew him from before and didn’t know Coach Pitino since he was down in Florida?
Alex Illikainen: Yes. I had been down to Minnesota a lot when Tubby and them were there plus I know Ben. It is a new start, but I have some roots there.
Gopher Hole: A lot of Gopher fans who love to see you go to Minnesota. Is Minnesota a school that you grew up watching?
Alex Illikainen: Absolutely. Homestate. Golden Gophers. It would be awesome to play in the Barn and it is definitely somewhere that I grew up watching.
Gopher Hole: What would it mean to play for the homestate school?
Alex Illikainen: It would be awesome. Having all those fans there rooting for me. Family would get to come down easily. Like I said, playing in the Barn would be a great place. .
Gopher Hole: You have made it to the state tournament the past three years. What are the goals and expectations for the upcoming season?
Alex Illikainen: Get back down there. Just going to get back and start in September with some captain’s practices. Keep working hard. Keep working as a team and get better as a team.
Alex Illikainen: Absolutely. Homestate. Golden Gophers. It would be awesome to play in the Barn and it is definitely somewhere that I grew up watching.
Gopher Hole: What would it mean to play for the homestate school?
Alex Illikainen: It would be awesome. Having all those fans there rooting for me. Family would get to come down easily. Like I said, playing in the Barn would be a great place. .
Gopher Hole: You have made it to the state tournament the past three years. What are the goals and expectations for the upcoming season?
Alex Illikainen: Get back down there. Just going to get back and start in September with some captain’s practices. Keep working hard. Keep working as a team and get better as a team.